However, rumours are that Nick Ciarelli got a fair chunk of change to shut down Think Secret. Think Secret writes:
Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret's publisher, said "I'm pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits."We don't know what the details of the settlement are, but it is believed by some that the settlement included a significant payoff. Just as importantly, Mr. Ciarelli didn't have to release the names of any of his sources.
Now, the voice behind Fake Steve claims he too was offered money to shut down his site. One always has to take these types of claims with a healthy dose of salt (as it's "Fake Steve" after all). However, he at least does bring up one good point that has been mentioned by many others before, which is that the existence of these blogs is evidence of a strong Apple fan base. These are not sites that are determined to harm Apple, and they arguably benefit from the free advertising. Apple's heavy-handed reaction to these sites, however, ironically does harm Apple's reputation.
[Update 2007-12-24]
The LA Times claims Mr. Ciarelli did indeed get paid to shut down his site.
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